To master or not to master

[Disease Factory]

On the fence, I sometimes feel that i like how my super loud renoise mixes sound better when i push fader levels. In cubase pushing faders is a road to mud. In renoise its a road to aggressive sound that actually sounds ok. Renoise has built in limiters on every track and man do they work good.

I liked how the new toxic coma sounded, it was not mastered, that is renoise being pushed, I did no post processing on it, no stereo enhancing, no limiting or compression. I did however compress all most every track in the mix and then push it even louder.

So what do you think? I find mastering now over rated.

With panning in the mix, and mixing this loud with limiters, i notice i get a open clear mix where i can hear every thing correctly. If i turn levels down, and then do the standard mastering with stereo enhance, limiters and compressors, i get a muddier less defined mix that is not even as loud as i can get it in renoise.

I cannot get things this loud in cubase or any other daw, its renoise where i can push the levels and still get good sound.

[Meow]

Where is the link to the song?

Also why can't you just do both? Do all the things in the mix you talked about you liked and then have it mastered?

I confusicated!

[verve92]

You planning to master yourself? Or send out?
Either way it's good to be satisfied with your mix.
I disagree that mastering is overrated. It depends how far you want to take the recording.

[msl]

To master.

But you know, if your really liking what your getting then go for it. If it sounds good it is good, etc.

Personally I always use an ME if its for release, I want the second opinion and ears, and I want to be sure the low end is correct for the club.


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